The Roman Map of
Britain Defining the
Boundaries
return
to main cosmography
In areas where Roman roads are known, the recognized sites are on Roman
roads. In some areas, such as western Cornwall we are probably dealing with
Romanized native trackways akin to Margary 492b. In other areas, such as
north-east Scotland we are likely dealing with the recorded path of a military
expedition.
| R&C no. | Comments | Quadrant |
|
1-28 |
The first entries are generally acknowledged to be somewhere in
Cornwall. The westernmost portion is the obvious, but not certain,
starting point. Tamaris (5) is certainly on the River Tamar and
in theory near an east-west boundary. Scadu
namorum (16) is certainly Exeter and presumably in the quadrant that
precedes Quadrant 3.. Next are six entries (17-22) which
do not appear to be in the immediate vicinity of Exeter. Then follows Iterum
iuxta super scriptam civitatem Scadoniorum est civitas quae dicitur.
This tells us that what follows is close by the above-named Scadoniorum
Isca Dumnoniorum,. It does not tell us their tribal affiliation. Moriduno (23) is traditionally regarded
as being the same as that found in the Tabula Peutingeriana and AI 's Iter xv. Moriduno
(23) is by virtue of its name a 'sea fort', but which coast it is on is
debatable, as is the traditional equation. The Dumnonii-Durotriges
border is generally defined by the course of the rivers Parrett and Axe.
Lindinis (26) is certainly in the territory of the Durotriges and
Ilchester is near the border. Tedertis (25) appears to be a
corrupted Pedretis which is easily tied to Ham Hill southwest of
Ilchester. If the border of the Dumnonii is being defined, it is
done with cities of the neighboring Durotriges. Ilchester and Ham Hill
are midway between the coasts, so the entries preceding and following
them could define the remaining extent of the border. These entries could conceivably represent as many as four quadrants. Much depends on how accurately the area was surveyed. If the main road for the western peninsula (Margary 492b) was a Romanized trackway, then it seems less likely that it was given the same degree of attention as new roads. Ptolemy's map would certainly allow for at least four quadrants, two degrees wide and one degree deep. Whether or not that many quadrants were inventoried is unknown. [see Order in the South-West] |
1 and 2 |
|
29-47 |
The point of transition to this quadrant is not immediately obvious. Four entries are recognized from the AI or Ptolemy's Geography - (38) Badbury, (41) Winchester, (44) Chichester and (46) Mildenhall. A survey of Roman names in the region points to an equation of Clauinio (29) and Clausentum of AI Iter vii. Last before the jump to Wales is Punctuobice (47) which Dilleman notes as a candidate for Pontibus of Iter Vii, Staines. |
3 |
|
48-61 |
Beginning with (48) Caerwent, the recognized sites are (52) Caerleon, (53) Abergavenny, (54) Llanio, (57) Kenchester and presumably (58) Leintwardine. Again, the final site is not obvious without surveying the known place names. Macatonion (61) can be none other than the Maridunum of Ptolemy and the Muridono of Iter xii, Carmarthen. |
4 |
|
62-66 |
Beginning with (62) Gloucester and ending with (66) Cirencester, only sites in the western half of this quadrant are recorded. The eastern half seems to have been overlooked until later. |
5 |
| (67) Silchester's entry amends an earlier oversight, and was likely the source of another just previous. |
amendment to 3 |
|
| From (68) Pevensey through (74) Rochester, few entries are in doubt. Defining the transition to Quadrant 7 is difficult. |
6 |
|
| These four entries, Landini, Tamese, Brinauis, and Alauna are cause for debate. Some may belong in Quadrant 6, or might be an amendment to the Quadrant 5, or be part of Quadrant 7. [see Landini-Tamese-Brinauis-Alauna. |
uncertain 6, 5 or 7 |
|
| (79) Wroxeter, (82) Caernarvon, (83) Caerhun, (84) Whitchurch, and (86) Chester are the five recognized sites. |
7 |
|
| Veratino (87) bears some resemblance to Varis of Iter Xi, and both are listed next to Chester of Quadrant 7. A Veratino - Lutudaron connection seems unlikely. |
7 or 8 |
|
| Lutudaron (88) is in the Derbyshire mining district. The remaining five sites are known - (89) Littlechester, (90) Middlewich, (91) Northwich, (92-93) Leicester, and (94) Wall. |
8 |
|
| (95) Towcester falls at the transition from Quadrant 8 to Quadrant 9 and can be explained as an amendment to the otherwise empty northeastern quarter of Quadrant 5. This transition cum amendment is identical to the transition from Quadrant 5 to Quadrant 6. |
amendment to 5 |
|
| (96) St Albans, (97) London, (98) Chelmsford, and (99) Colchester are all certainly located. |
9 |
|
| Durcinate and Duroviguto are uncertain. |
9 or 10 |
|
| (102) Water Newton, (103) Caistor St Edmund, and (104) Lincoln are certain. |
10 |
|
| Bannovallum (105) is uncertain, but traditionally located in Quadrant 10. |
10 or 11 |
|
|
The sites of these two quadrants are located on or south of the
Stanegate and north of all of the previously listed sites. Quadrant 11
covers the west and Quadrant 12 the east. A disruption in the cosmographer's methodology indicates that two lines were copied out of order. Restoring the order to (126-130), followed by (123-125) solves the problem. |
11-12 |
|
| In this quadrant are (106) Brough-on-Noe, (107) Buxton, (108) Manchester, (118) Maryport, (122) Papcastle, (123) Kirkby Thore, (124) Ribchester, (127) Brough, (128) Old Penrith, (129) Carlisle, and (130) Carvoran. |
11 |
|
| (125) is presumably, but not certainly in Quadrant 12. |
12? |
|
| This quadrant holds (132) Chesterholm, (133) Lanchester, (134) Binchester, (135) Bowes, (136) Catterick, (137) York, and (141) Chester-le-Street. |
12 |
|
| Hadrian's Wall is listed from east to west, omitting previously listed Stanegate forts. |
W |
|
| Brocara (156) is Brocavo of Iter v, Brougham, otherwise missing from Quadrant 11. Two following entries offer the promise of sites further south on Margary 7d. |
amendment to 11 |
|
| Between the walls are
at least two, possibly three quadrants. What is illustrated as
Quadrant 13 should almost certainly be divided into two. The question
remains as to whether or not the cosmographer listed any sites in the
westernmost portion. Quadrant 14 contains (183) Newstead and (185) High Rochester. The point of transition between the Quadrants 13 and 14 is not clear. |
13 and 14 |
|
| The Antonine Wall is partially listed beginning in the east with the first fort (191) Carriden. We have what appear to be only ten entries for at least sixteen forts. Possibly a line of text was overlooked during an earlier copying. In comparison, the listing of forts on Hadrian's Wall is not entirely consecutive. | ||
| North of the Antonine Wall, a significant number of sites are recognizable from Ptolemy's Geography. The number of quadrants is unknown. | ||
| The diversa loca do not contribute to our knowledge of the map's internal boundaries. The loca are not 'tribal meeting-places', but standing bodies of water or wetlands. |
wetlands |
|
| The rivers follow the order 3, 2, 4, 7?, 11, 13, 12, 10, 14, 6, 9, 1. |
rivers |
|
| This curiously short section deals with Irish rivers. |
Irish rivers |
|
| Islands of the western ocean divided into different parts. The source of the differentiation is uncertain. It might be the result of having a separate map for Ireland, or that islands on the west coast of Ireland are listed midway through. |
islands |
|
| (276) Anglesey, (278) Man, (281) Bute, (288) Skye | ||
| (292) Canna?, (295) Jura | ||
| The Orkneys | ||
| Islands of the western ocean surrounding Britain from a weltkarte - (303) Isle of Wight, (304) Mull, (305) Ireland, and (306) Thanet. |